Teen Center becomes benefactor of Brookline Reads

4/6/08The proposed Brookline Teen Center received needed assistance this month as the library dedicated the Brookline Reads program to raising awareness and hopefully funds for the project.

Brookline Reads is a program in which all residents of Brookline are encouraged to read one book at the same time and participate in community events regarding the selection.

The Teen Center is currently in the planning stages in Brookline. The project was first proposed in 2005 and an initial $50,000 was raised, but the project has somewhat stalled since then.

Paul Epstein, a social worker at Brookline High School who is spearheading the program, said, "The Teen Center is something we're trying to build and create. The town lacks a youth community center, and it's really a void in the town. There is no facility for them outside of school."

Library trustees who are in charge of the Brookline Reads program heard of the plight of the Teen Center and chose to dedicate this year's program to educating the community about the center and its potential impact on local teens.

Roberta Winitzer, the Brookline Reads chairperson said, "What we realized was most people that knew about it [the Teen Center] were involved with the high school."

To spread awareness of the Teen Center throughout the community, Winitzer and the other trustees worked to develop programming for this year's Brookline Reads that centered around the Teen Center and its central ideas.

This year, library trustees chose the non-fiction book "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis to feature in the program. The trustees hope that the book's story of the evolution of one teen from a troubled inner-city student to a successful collegiate football player through a safe and warm environment will inspire Brookline residents to want to create a Teen Center that will do the same for local students.

Winitzer said, "The idea is that people, family and friends, should read the book, talk about it and then share ideas." She continued, "We wanted a book that would express the ideas of the Teen Center - a place that is comfortable and safe for kids."

Outside of merely having the residents in the community read "The Blind Side," library trustees have also developed programs that will promote the book and the values of the Teen Center. Former national women's soccer team captain Kristine Lilly gave a presentation to the community about the importance of teenagers finding a place in the community where they can thrive. Furthermore, the library held community book discussions and film showings that elaborated on the themes of the book and its connection to the Teen Center.

A panel discussion was also held in order that all residents who wanted more information could discuss the themes of the book in context with the Teen Center.

"This year the panel discussion involved the idea that we are all a part of many teams - a family, a soccer group, a ballet class. We learn how to work with other people and hopefully the skills that we have get to be used and supported by other people," Winitzer said.

Jessica White, an Allston citizen who participates in Brookline Reads, said, "I had never heard of the Teen Center initiative before the Brookline Reads program. From what I've learned about the Teen Center though, the book by Michael Lewis does seem to go along with its ideals."

White went on to say, "It's important that the teenagers in Brookline have a safe place to go, a place where they feel comfortable. The Teen Center can be that place for them, and I hope the Brookline Reads program has inspired Brookline residents to develop the Teen Center further."

Epstein said the Brookline Reads program has paid off for the Teen Center as people in the community are becoming more aware of the project. "The Teen Center is in development, so to get some community support and buzz about it is great," he said.